Comments on: Thesis Review: Buying Thesis? Read This Before You Do!

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:39:17 +0000

Oh, and while I am at it: For SEO reaons the sidebar HTML code usually belongs at the bottom of any one page’s HTML code, because it contains often just ads or less SEO relevant text. Check your ‘SEO optimised’ themes where they place content that is usually not directly relevant to your page copy.

E.g., Headway lets you choose left or right sidebar. Great. For best visibility and click rates your ads should be on the left side of the screen. If you want people to click on your ads, the sidebar *must* be on the left. So you chose ‘left side’ in the Headway GUI. Then look at the HTML source of your pages. Where is the sidebar code? It is at the *top* of the page. Is that SEO? For most blogs it is *not* SEO. Now edit your custom stylesheet and replace the float:left with float:right while keeping the setting in the Headway GUI at ‘left’. Look at your page source once again. Where is the sidebar code? Miracle, it is at the bottom of the page. *That* is SEO.

Anyway, I still like Headway.

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:54:12 +0000

Actually there is one more thing I have to say in addition ot my previous response. Please bear in mind that SEO is not something that can be automated, i.e., that themes advertising with the usual ‘SEO optimization’ hype not help you like magic for climbing the ranks of the search engines. Yes, there are HTML entities that must be filled and handled, and presented to the SE spiders properly for the SEs to understand what your site and pages are about. But content remains king! If you do not write SEO’d copy none of the ‘SEO optimized’ themes or frameworks will help you. I have seen sites using those ranking relevant HTML entities either not at all or totally inappropriate … and they ranked on Google’s page one for highly competitive search terms.

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:09:59 +0000

Congratulations to your savvy review. In the past few weeks I have been trying out all of the frameworks currently on the market, plus a few other approaches such as Semiologic, Carrington and the likes. And I just responded to the Headway guys’ survey that their framework rocks in all regards, i.e., not only via their excellent foll-proof GUI but also when one knows how to (custom-)code. There are quite a few good frameworks around, including Hybrid, Genesis, etc., and I will be using most of those I have been trying for the various sites I am developing.

Thesis is an absolute no-go for me and I strongly discourage everyone from using it. It *is* a *nightmare* even for people who know in-depth coding. It is totally inflexible because it is nothing more than a simplistic old fashioned blog site layout translated into so-called “core functions” that cannot be manipulated without editing their *core* that should not be edited if one wants to pull their automatic updates. Thesis users, have you tried modifying anything that is not quickly accessible through their ‘after’ and ‘before’ hooks, e.g., the presentation of en excerpt or a content box? Good luck! Thesis is the proof of wat marketing power and *forced* *SEO* (with their mandatory footer link) can do: sell stale beer as fresh from the tap!

By: max

max — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:13:23 +0000

I like your new design! It looks very professional. I’m using Thesis Theme Framework on several web projects and always set up site design by myself. Thesis is the best WordPress theme ever!
max´s recent [type] ..Phoenix – премиум тема для WordPress от YOOtheme

By: Ultimate Blogging FAQ: 101 Most Asked Questions | Blogging With Success

Ultimate Blogging FAQ: 101 Most Asked Questions | Blogging With Success — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:33:31 +0000

[...] recommend buying Thesis theme because it can be turned into almost any layout. However, if you are short on time or have limited [...]

By: SBA

SBA — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 23:46:39 +0000

Hello Deborah!

Yes, there are so many free themes. However, I find many of them lack something and require customization. It could be the size of the font, the number and size of sidebars, no footer position and navigation of menu… It's especially true for those of us with Html/Css experience! For those who are not into DIY (do it yourself), it's worth considering using a web designer. We've built sites that are low maintenance — even our site didn't have to change after the initial design, but we wanted to tinker…

Free child themes would be nice… This site lists a good number for free ones, like our "Fresh Company" skin (you pay to remove linkback): http://thesisthemes.com/thesis-skins/ (ones at the bottom like Thesis Bold,Straight Shooter,etc.)
SBA´s recent [type] ..Plugins That Make Blogging With Success Easier-Using the Thesis OpenHook

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:07:17 +0000

I use Thesis 1.8 Developer option – with WP3.0.1, and I agree with most of this post. I have experience with HTML and CSS, but am just grasping PHP. Thesis is very powerful if you know what you are doing, otherwise, I'd recommend sticking with the free WP and the 1,000's of free themes out there. I almost wished I had, however I am enjoying Thesis and learning to do different things with it.

I also wish there were just a couple more free Thesis skins, it's a shame that Open Source has gone the way of Thesis.
Deborah´s recent [type] ..Testing Headline “False”

By: SBA

SBA — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:52:40 +0000

If you don't want to spend $87 for Thesis you can find a designer with a developer's license. They can get you a "single Client Site Option" for $40. Downside is you don't have access to the support forums, except via the developer. I have a developer's license for WPBlogExperts.com so let me know if you're interested. The list of free themes is growing.

The hybrid theme is fine if you want to spend the time building up your design. Since it's free, why not install on a test site and see… ? One caution, the free version lets you see the forums but not post a question or see tutuorials… you pay $25/yr. for the membership club.

By: TheAffairLady

TheAffairLady — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 23:34:17 +0000

Thanks for this post, I am considering buying thesis today but the price is kinda holding me back and it doesn't seem like there are many free child themes. I can't decide what makes thesis any better than hybrid theme which is free?
TheAffairLady´s recent [type] ..Extramarital Affairs – Cheating Statistics

By: SBA

SBA — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:43:26 +0000

I see how that could turn things real sour for you! Did you get a response from Thesis on what happened? I know from downloading another theme (not DIY) that files can be corrupted between the download, unzip and upload process — without explanation. I reported it in the forum and no one else had the problem (the moderator even downloaded and installed the same theme, no problem).

As for no 'perfect theme', you're right and it's folks like us (and Mr I) who make sure to find needed improvements! LOL